Meet Insirah Billy.
Billy is one of East’s exchange students for the 2017-2018 school year. In the summer of 2017, Billy began on the adventure of a lifetime. She traded the sands and islands of her native Philippines for Iowa’s centuries-old oak trees and expansive cornfields. Billy currently lives with her host family in Evansdale. She is an outstanding junior at East.
There is more to Billy than her friendly smile and near-perfect GPA. It is her heart for serving others which first garnered attention to feature her as a Wednesday Warrior. Insirah Billy states, “I am very interested in community service and I am also involved with leadership conferences.”
In February, she attended The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) program in Des Moines which hosted exchange students from a selection of nearly 40 different countries. (The YES program believes that foreign languages and international experience are critical for the next generation of global leaders.)
Billy is currently attending a week-long conference for the American Councils for International Education (ACIE) workshop in Washington D.C. with other exchange students. (The ACIE believes in delivering meaningful overseas experiences that create well-informed, empowered individuals.) At the ACIE in Washington D.C.,Billy is able to interact with other exchange students from around the world while representing the Philippines and Iowa. She is also able to hear from speakers like Dr. Davidson on how to have a thriving service career in our globally-connected world. It is through her life-long love of service that makes her want to become a foreign relations diplomat.
Billy’s spirit for service is one in which all East students can draw inspiration. East is thrilled to host Billy as one of its 2017-18 exchange students. Billy is meant for great destinations and East is thrilled to be a part of her journey.